2 Chronicles 35-36

You may, or may not, remember what the Bible Project Overview told us about the significance of how Chronicles ends (I had to go back and rewatch). In the Hebrew Bible, this is the last book, their “Revelation”, if you will. Even though they have the historically/chronologically later books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther), they are arranged earlier. This underlines the heart of Jewish people: Looking forward, holding on to Hope for their Messianic King and the temple which will draw all nations with it’s glory.

As New Covenant believers, we are sure about Jesus being the Messianic King, and we know we have become temples of His Spirit, but we are not sure about the nations heading for physical Jerusalem/Mt. Zion to see God’s manifest presence one day. That is a sticky theological discussion way above my pay grade; so ask someone else.

In any case, I want to focus on what Cyrus says at the end:

“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up!” (36:23)

You’ve been in exile, put in time-out 70 years to satisfy all the skipped sabbaths, and now you’re free to go. You who still cares, go on!

We are, admittedly, in a strange moment in history. Now imagine if the President of Iran, along with Putin and any other unlikely world power suddenly issued a decree saying, “We are in charge of the world and we would like to see the church of the God of Abraham established, so all y’all who are His People, know He is with you and GO!” That would be something, right?? Maybe we would be more bold?

Now what about our Messianic King Himself saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

These speeches all contain 4 points:

Established authority of decreer

Directions to make a temple/disciples

Promise of God being WITH you

The instruction to GO

The Jews might be waiting for their Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and their King to regain world prominence. American Christians might be waiting for Jesus to come back and save us from ISIS, hurricanes, forest fires and the gay agenda. But Jesus, the Nations and Creation are waiting for “the Sons of Man to be revealed” (Romans 8:19). Shouldn’t that make us bold?

God lead us! Fill us with your Spirit and boldness! You are our authority, King Jesus. Thank you for your gracious patience. Show us where to go.